[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 14, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H6635-H6637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD
Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1052) honoring the members of the Army National
Guard and Air National Guard of the State of Oklahoma for their service
and sacrifice on behalf of the United States since September 11, 2001.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1052
Whereas members of the Army National Guard and Air National
Guard of the State of Oklahoma reside throughout the State
and come from various communities, backgrounds, and
professions;
Whereas the Army National Guard and Air National Guard of
the State of Oklahoma are composed of several units,
including the Joint Forces Headquarters, the 45th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team, the 45th Fires Brigade, the 90th Troop
Command, the 189th Regional Training Institute, Camp Gruber
Joint Maneuver Training Center, the 137th Air Refueling Wing,
the 138th Fighter Wing, the 205th Engineering Installation
Squadron, and the 219th Engineering Installation Squadron;
Whereas, since September 11, 2001, units and members of the
Army National Guard and the Air National Guard of the State
of Oklahoma have been deployed, and are continuously being
deployed, in support of United States military operations at
home and abroad;
Whereas the 45th Infantry Brigade mobilized in 2003 for
Operation Enduring Freedom and deployed more than 700
soldiers to Afghanistan to provide training to Afghan
Security Forces;
Whereas the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team mobilized in
2007 for Operation Iraqi
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Freedom and deployed more than 2,700 soldiers to provide
command and control and conduct security force and detainee
operations, representing the largest single deployment for
the Oklahoma Army National Guard since the Korean War;
Whereas the 45th Fires Brigade mobilized in 2008 for
Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed more than 1,000 soldiers
to provide command and control and conduct security force
operations;
Whereas 90th Troop Command units mobilized for Operation
Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and deployed
more than 2,600 soldiers to conduct combat support and combat
service support missions;
Whereas the 189th Regional Training Institute and Camp
Gruber Joint Maneuver Training Center have provided
professional training to military and nonmilitary personnel
to enhance domestic security and prepare units for
deployments abroad;
Whereas the Oklahoma Army National Guard mobilized in 2005
and deployed more than 2,500 soldiers to support relief
operations in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,
including assisting law enforcement agencies with traffic
control and security, transporting and distributing food,
water, and ice, conducting search and rescue and ground and
air evacuations, providing generator support, and performing
other missions to protect life and property;
Whereas the 137th Airlift Wing mobilized in 2003 for
Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia as part of the largest C-130 wing assembled in
history, transporting troops, food, supplies, and equipment
to United States forces in Iraq;
Whereas the 137th Airlift Wing mobilized in 2003 for
Operation Enduring Freedom and deployed to Uzbekistan,
providing critical airlift and logistical support for United
States forces in Afghanistan;
Whereas between 2003 and 2006, the 137th Airlift Wing
transported 39,368 troops and 11,170 tons of critical cargo
to United States forces in Iraq and Afghanistan;
Whereas the 137th Airlift Wing mobilized in 2005 and
deployed one of the first C-130 units to support relief
operations in response to Hurricane Katrina, including
evacuating hospital and nursing home residents to safety by
air, providing critical logistical support, and airlifting
2,500 members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard to
population centers to provide aid to hurricane victims;
Whereas the 138th Fighter Wing mobilized in 2005, 2007, and
2008 for Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed to Iraq to
provide close air support and engage in combat missions,
during which the 138th Fighter Wing expended 109,000 pounds
of combat ordnance and successfully destroyed numerous
targets; and
Whereas, since September 11, 2001, the 138th Fighter Wing
has flown numerous Air Sovereignty Alert missions in the
United States, protecting high value domestic targets against
attack and contributing to homeland defense, and in 2008 the
138th Fighter Wing was recognized as the most active alert
facility in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses its gratitude to the members of the Army
National Guard and Air National Guard of the State of
Oklahoma and their families for their service and sacrifice
on behalf of the United States since September 11, 2001; and
(2) recognizes the citizen-soldiers and airmen of the
Oklahoma National Guard as invaluable to the national
security of the United States, vital to defending against
threats both foreign and domestic, and essential for
responding to State and national emergencies.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Boren) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.
General Leave
Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOREN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I, along with the entire Oklahoma congressional
delegation, rise today to recognize the members of the Oklahoma Army
and Air National Guard for their service and sacrifice since September
11, 2001. Military service is a time-honored tradition in Oklahoma, and
the members of the Oklahoma National Guard are a living testament to
this heritage.
{time} 1440
Following the terrorist attacks on 9/11, thousands of members of the
Oklahoma National Guard bravely answered the call of duty. They have
confronted our enemies on the battlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan,
defended the American homeland security against domestic threats and
responded bravely to natural disasters and domestic emergencies.
Madam Speaker, Members of the Oklahoma National Guard are an
invaluable asset to the United States military during wartime. Some of
their more notable missions since 9/11 include providing air transport
for soldiers and vital equipment to and from Iraq and Afghanistan,
assisting with relief operations in response to Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita and deploying specialized units of agricultural specialists to
Afghanistan to assist local Afghans with agricultural development.
Madam Speaker, as we discuss this resolution, 3,500 members of the
45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team are preparing to deploy to
Afghanistan in the spring of 2011 as part of the President's surge
strategy. This represents the single largest deployment of the Oklahoma
National Guard since the Korean War.
Madam Speaker, these Oklahoma soldiers and airmen are extraordinary
Americans. As members of the Oklahoma National Guard, they bravely risk
their lives to protect the freedom and liberty that we so cherish. In
their daily lives, these heroes are found throughout the Sooner State
working among their fellow Oklahomans as police officers, firefighters,
school teachers, and farmers.
That is why I, along with the entire Oklahoma delegation, am humbled
to bring this resolution to the floor of the House today.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1052, honoring the
members of the Army and Air National Guard of the State of Oklahoma for
their service and sacrifices on behalf of the United States since
September 11, 2001. I want to commend Representative Boren of Oklahoma
for sponsoring the legislation.
The units and personnel of the Oklahoma National Guard are remarkably
diverse and capable. Their contributions since September 11, 2001, not
only during the global war on terror, but also for the security of our
homeland, are significant. They have conducted multiple major unit
deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, including the mobilization and
deployment of the 45th Infantry Brigade, some 2,700 soldiers, to Iraq
in 2007. That was the largest deployment for the Oklahoma National
Guard since the Korean War.
Oklahoma National Guard units also mobilized more than 2,500
personnel in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, performing
missions to protect life and property. Since September 11, 2001, the
Oklahoma Air National Guard has flown numerous air sovereignty missions
to protect the U.S. mainland.
The successes and contributions of the Oklahoma Army and Air National
Guard are directly related to the dedication, sacrifices and the
professionalism of the civilian and military personnel who carry out
the Guard's missions, and to the outstanding support of families for
the continued service men and women of the National Guard. Their
efforts and sacrifices deserve our recognition and thanks. For that
reason, I urge all Members to support the resolution.
Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, in closing, I want to thank the men and
women of the Oklahoma National Guard and their family members for their
service and sacrifice since September 11, 2001.
I also wish members of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team well as
they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan early next year. May they stay
safe during this vitally important mission, and we pray for their safe
and speedy return home.
I urge adoption of this resolution.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Boren) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1052.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
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Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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